Show f -- I 7vrt N 4 t If' 1 IN THESE DAYS YOUNG COUPLES MUST DREAM OF SECURITY BUT 1 1 t 71-4(- '"9i1 - ' kllik'' A ' 1 ( 1 ' -- I ( - ?"! &'' :1Tk - ore JI F-FI- GAM 111E t - AT LAST MR 1 if J I 1 ROSCAMBE COULD By Geoffrey Cotterell PURSUE HIS BELOVED HOBBY Illustrated by George Garland AgTHOR to welch: Mr Cotter? 11 is one of England's His latest book "Irestaterd to the movies Notice how definite damneder emerges from just few quickly — THE EDITORS strokes of Mr Cotterell's deft pen AN forenal younger rweelists thetun" km just been sold R I FEATURE FICTION I ROSCOMBE 31 was not ape cially cynical by nature but he had no doubt that the dinner invitation from young Charles Denison had some strings attached to it The fact was he was going to retire and he knew that Charles was hoping to get the job The invitation was rather like the ruml speech in an election campaign After the evening was over there'd be nothing more to do whether it worked or not "Any evening you like We almost never go out" "Nice of you to pity a lonely old widower" He looked reluctantly at his engagement book "How about Thursday?" "Oh good Nancyll be delighted" Charles said in his enthusiastic way He was a pleasant fellow and Mr Roocombe thought it such a pity that he was in for a disappointment Charles was not going to get the job Mr Roscombe ran the affairs of a large though not very exciting trade and technical association For the most part it was a matter of being a good efficient bureaucrat But just occasionally when important members quarreled or during the visits of continental delegations there were moments when he had had to show diplomacy humor common sense — whatever it was it was here that Charles wasn't up to it in Mr Roscombe's opinion lith WAS all the sorrier because he himself had picked Charles when he came down from the university one of the early graduates It was hard to say what was wrong with him He was good looking and he had been to the right kind of school He was intensely keen on his work He came in ing every day and he was always ready to do a little bit extra 12 But though it was Mr Roscornbe's instinct that had made him pick Charles as his assistant it was also his instinct which warned him that be would be no good as his successor And the president matter was becoming urgent of the Association that year brought it The had up to the point now where someone's got to step in within six months Roscombe who Matter of fact I have a brother-in-la- w might be ideal for the job—what do you want to retire for anyway? You could at least stay out the rest of the year of office" That was the last thing Mr Roscombe wanted to do When he retired he intended to devote himself to the trade in antique silver on which he was something of an expert Thirty years ago he had seen the opportunity and ever since he had watched the business he "It's got might have had being developed by others The market had gone up and up He could have been a rich man if only he had taken the chance WHAT was more important hied have been doing something creative he'd have been spared years of boredom Of course it was no use thinking about it There had been Miriam and the boys and he wanted security Antique silver had seemed too risky a proposition When he realized his timidity had been a mistake it was too late But now that he was a widower and his family were grown up and scattered one in other in Yorkshire — both far Kenya t! from London — now at last he would spend his retirement doing what he should have done all along He was counting the days "I used to think of Denison" he said ignor"But I'm afraid not ing the brother-in-laWe'd better advertise" "Well it's up to you" said the president w Mr Roscombe lived in a service fiat twenty minutes walk from the office and this was another reason for depression on the night of the dinner He sat beside Charles in a mowded bus which seemed to go for hours in a northwesterly direction from central London He was determined to be honest and not to raise their hopes and he kept wondering if it Would not be more straightforward to tell Charles flatly that be had no prospects But it was hardly possible to do that while he was a guest MEANWHILE the host who was wearing a black Homburg and black overcoat like his own chatted gaily about office affairs Mr Roscombe observing him wistfully wished he could be as enthusiastic They got off the bus at last and walked for another ten minutes The house was one of a villas Nancy long row of Denison opened the door sniffing She was prettier than he remembered from meeting her on various official occasions but she seemed very slightly nervous Of course this would be an ordeal for her "It is nice of you to come such an awfully long way to see us Charles the drinks and cigarettes are on the table over there Let me take your coat Mr Roscombe I do hope you're hungry" Mr Roscombe's discomfort had not affected his appetite and quite a pleasant smell was coming from the kitchen direction "I hope you haven't put yourself out too " he began but Nancy Denison was much listening elsewhere "Excuse me Mr Roscombe Was that a sound? Oh heavens I thought they'd settled semi-detach- down" "Ill go up" said Charles "No I'll griA "Let me come too" said Mr Roscombe half to put them at ease and half because it was lid long since he had been part of a household like this There were three children aged three ram two years and six months One was crying and Mr Roscombe watched Charles change him with a practiced hand while Nancy Denison rushed downstairs to the kitchen to stop something from burning Everywhere was the smell of oil and smears of orange cod-liv- er juice He and Miriam thought Mr Roscornbe lived more easity than the Denison& It was quite plain whit a difference his salary would make to them and he warned himself not to be overcome by sympathy His instinct was against Charles and that was the way it would have to be however nice a couple they were and however hard pressed All the same he felt more and more guilty as the evening went on They were so good natured and so obviously in love and moreover Charles kept talking about the office to show off his grasp of the organization The meal was excellent chicken and apple pie and some blue cheese and a bottle of white Bordeaux "You oughtn't to have have done all this" Mr Roscombe protested "Well it's nice to make a splash now and then" Nancy smiled "The worse off you are the better it tastes It's certainly difficult to manage nowadays — " "Oh we get along all right" Charles said "But I suppose things will be easier in time" Nancy went on with a glance at the guest "Oh do have some more cheese — you haven't taken any" had IF wouldn't try quite so hard Mr Roscombe thought unhappily She was constantly giving him an opening which he felt he had to ignore And then she would go on chatting gaily and looking with pride at her husband It was really a very difficult evening and much as he liked the Denisons he knew he should never have come "Let's have coffee in the living room We'll have some music" Rather to Mr Roscombe's surprise Nancy sat down at the upright piano "We ought really to sell it" she said and began to play Bach Mr Roscombe was essentially of the l school but he was musical and he was impressed Then she laughed ONLY she know-what-I-li- TW - - 4 ' 1 - 4r :' |